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Making a point on home ice

LIGHTNING 2, BLACKHAWKS 2: Tampa Bay snaps a five-game Ice Palace winless streak.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 19, 2002

TAMPA -- The Lightning's game against the Blackhawks Friday at the Ice Palace was a half-empty, half-full affair.

That Tampa Bay played an impressive, straight-up game against the team with the second-most points in the league makes the tie at 2 something of which to be proud.

But the Lightning missed chances to win -- Fredrik Modin must have been kicking himself after missing the net from point-blank range with 3:21 left in regulation -- and that gave some players pause, especially with the Lightning seven points behind the Devils for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot. "Two points would have been a lot more important," defenseman Jassen Cullimore said. "It's good we came out with a point against one of the top teams in the league, but it's a point we let slip away. When we have an opportunity, we have to take advantage."

But why quibble when there were so many good performances that helped snap a five-game home losing streak?

Martin St. Louis scored his team-high 14th and 15th goals, both on assists from Brad Richards, and Nikolai Khabibulin was sturdy while making 34 saves. He did play one seemingly harmless shot into a Chicago goal, but more on that later.

The offense too continued a resurgence, building on a 5-4 overtime victory Tuesday over the Devils. Though two goals is not a windfall, the Lightning took 32 shots, looked quick and played creatively and energetically.

Richards, who has a team-high 21 assists, led with six shots; Vinny Lecavalier and Vinny Prospal had five each. "The last two games we seem to be a lot quicker and the transition is a little quicker and we're trying to throw pucks to the net, and that's very encouraging," coach John Tortorella said.

"I think the guys are feeling pretty good about themselves and are letting their game go. I hope it continues as we go along here in a tough stretch."

That includes 12 consecutive games against East foes starting tonight against Montreal that could determine whether Tampa Bay is in the playoff hunt.

Not that the past few games have been easy. The Lightning for the first time has played three consecutive overtime games, and is unbeaten at 1-0-2.

Chicago, which had won 12 of its past 15, threw up its own roadblocks. Goals by Tony Amonte and Steve Sullivan gave it leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the first and second periods, respectively.

Both times St. Louis had the answer.

He tied the score at 1 in the first period by pouncing on a rebound after Chicago goaltender Jocelyn Thibault made a nice save of Richards' slap shot.

He was there again in the second period when Richards' shot hit the post and landed at St. Louis' feet.

"We stayed with them and they're one of the best teams in the league," St. Louis said. "We played good enough to win."

There was the matter of Chicago's first goal, which Khabibulin undoubtedly would love to have back.

Sullivan fired a seemingly innocent shot from the neutral zone that Khabibulin let bounce off him and to Amonte, who put the puck in an open net for his 17th goal and 700th career point.

"I tried to control the rebound and couldn't control it properly," Khabibulin said. "It bounced, but it is still unacceptable."

He more than made up for it with two superb saves on Alex Zhamnov, robbing the high-scoring center one on one in both the second and third periods.

"But I'm going to remember the goal more than the stops," Khabibulin said.

"This game could have gone both ways," Thibault said. "It really had everything; two teams battling and playing at a high level. Sometimes you get lucky with a win."

The Lightning should be happy with a good tie.

TONIGHT: LIGHTNING VS. CANADIENS

WHEN/WHERE: 7; Ice Palace, Tampa.

TV/RADIO: Sunshine; WDAE-AM 620.

THE LOWDOWN: Montreal is 3-6-2 in its past 11 and 1-6-2-1 in its past 10 on the road. Tampa Bay is 10-8-1-1 at home. The Canadiens are 7-12-4-2 on the road. Tampa Bay is 8-16-3-2 against the East. Montreal is 13-12-5-2. Canadiens C Mike Ribiero is tied for fourth among rookies with three power-play goals. This is the second of four meetings. The Lightning won 4-3 on Dec. 17 in Montreal. The Lightning trails the series 14-16-4-1 and is 7-6-3-1 at home.

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